Legislature
The PA Politics Podcast: S2, E2: The PA Politics Podcast: Senator Jay Costa on Apple Podcasts
Philly ends 2021 with record murders. Some leaders have hope for 2022 – WHYY
Proposed Legislative Map Draws GOP Ire – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)
5 takeaways from Pennsylvania’s new state House and Senate maps – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Letter: Give credit to people too often overlooked (readingeagle.com)
These Lehigh Valley park projects just got a combined $1.5M in state grants – lehighvalleylive.com
Delaware County receives $4.6M to improve its aging 911 system – WHYY
Hellertown, L. Saucon Awarded $300K+ in Grants for Park Upgrades (sauconsource.com)
Several parks in Berks to benefit from state grants | Berks Regional News | wfmz.com
Nathan Benefield: How officials use tax dollars in lobbying efforts | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Coronavirus – COVID-19
CDC considers COVID-19 test requirement for asymptomatic: Fauci – pennlive.com
Is 5-day COVID quarantine good guidance? | Smart Talk (witf.org)
What is the endgame for COVID? Omicron clouds forecasts (abc27.com)
Cases remain high in region, dip slightly in state | Coronavirus | thetimes-tribune.com
Penn State to start upcoming Spring semester in-person | ABC27
Pa. nurses after 22 months of COVID-19 and a new surge: ‘It is so defeating’ (inquirer.com)
Business/Jobs
Philly face office reckoning but labs and apartment conversions may help (inquirer.com)
A tale of two raw pet-food companies, locked in a legal battle in rural Pennsylvania. (inquirer.com)
N.J.’s minimum wage rises to $13 an hour on its way to $15 (inquirer.com)
A generous unemployment package can help workers on the job, too | Opinion (inquirer.com)
Crime/Punishment
We can’t take a Soros-supported ‘progressive’ approach to crime, bail (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
Police Ask Your Help Identifying Theft, Credit Card Fraud Suspect – MyChesCo
Western Pennsylvanians accused in Capitol riot face judgment day | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Capitol rioters’ tears, remorse don’t spare them from jail | WITF
Hate crimes are soaring. White supremacists have a new recruitment tool: Video games. (inquirer.com)
Education
Pushing back on former Temple professor’s alien abduction claims (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
Some schools around the region announce school closings (dailylocal.com)
School District of Lancaster closed Jan. 3 due to holiday COVID-19 surge (abc27.com)
Staffing shortages at Pittsburgh Public Schools require remote learning | TribLIVE.com
Central Bucks School District cancels school citing COVID-related teacher absences (inquirer.com)
Exeter School Board reinstates mask requirement (readingeagle.com)
Some Delaware County schools going virtual as COVID numbers increase (delcotimes.com)
Delaware Valley short of bus drivers | News | thetimes-tribune.com
Elections/Politics
Pa. governor’s race: Here’s who is running in 2022 (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
ROSICA: Will Parents Tip the Elections in 2022? – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)
Poll: A majority of Americans believe U.S. democracy is in crisis : NPR
6 questions for politics in 2022 : NPR
Pennsylvania’s wide open elections | Morning Newsletter (inquirer.com)
‘A hell of a year’: GOP eyes big 2022, but weaknesses remain (inquirer.com)
Hispanics are the majority in Hazleton. When will they win at the ballot? | News | citizensvoice.com
Transportation
Pennsylvania Turnpike tolls increase for 2022, again (mainlinemedianews.com)
Schuylkill Avenue bridge in Reading to be replaced (readingeagle.com)
Editorial: Turnpike toll troubles continue (delcotimes.com)
Health
Andrew Abramczyk: Medicaid, the federal program that ate Pennsylvania (broadandliberty.com)
UPMC opens faith-based OB-GYN practice – pennlive.com
State News
Right-to-Know: York County won’t provide all messages about ICE contract (ydr.com)
Pennsylvania casinos not ready to cut smoking from gambling experience | TribLIVE.com
State supports veteran businesses with record-setting $856M contract | Times Leader
National News
New laws take effect across U.S. on abortion, policing, taxes (inquirer.com)
Here’s what the new ban on surprise medical billing means for you | WITF
Overnight storms bring damage to parts of US South | News | tribdem.com
Child Tax Credit’s Extra Help Ends, Just as Covid Surges Anew – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
Twitter bans Marjorie Taylor Greene for violating COVID-19 misinformation policy : NPR
Why Eric Adams and Kathy Hochul ‘Need Each Other’ – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
Local News
Chester County volunteers grateful to help tornado victims – Daily Local
Rovito, Verwey sworn in as new Chester County Common Pleas Court judges – Daily Local
Chester County man is nation’s first lottery millionaire of 2022 – Daily Local
Year in Review: Chester County gave ‘Mare’ its look, feel – Daily Local
Council split as Plymouth’s 2022 budget raises taxes amid rising expenses | Times Leader
Tuzinski will not serve third term as Forty Fort mayor | News | citizensvoice.com
New year to bring changes to Lackawanna County Court | News | thetimes-tribune.com
2022 looking ahead: Pandemic remains an influencer (readingeagle.com)
Wanda Williams to take oath as Harrisburg’s 39th mayor – pennlive.com
YDR editor Randy Parker shares diversity engagement plans for 2022
People, places, things around Erie to watch for in 2022 (goerie.com)
Erie County Emerge 2040 plan offers blueprint for historic investments (goerie.com)
Delaware County sees progress on some goals, conflict on others (delcotimes.com)
Chester City responds to Receiver regarding parking manager situation (delcotimes.com)
Pitt
Looking back at the tenure of Mayor Peduto – Pittsburgh: In Focus (post-gazette.com)
Ed Gainey’s virtual inauguration on Monday will be a day of firsts | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Meteor blamed for causing Pittsburgh-area boom that shook the ground – pennlive.com
Philly
Here are some good reasons to feel hopeful as we head into 2022 (thephiladelphiacitizen.org)
De facto charter school ban in Philly leads to growing waitlist (broadandliberty.com)
GIORDANO: Only One Person Can Turn Philly Around in 2022 – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)
Amid COVID-19 pandemic and rain delays, Mummers strut in Philly | WITF
PHA looks at its accomplishments from 2021 | Local News | phillytrib.com
2 killed, 12 wounded in shootings in Philadelphia | Local News | phillytrib.com
Over 65 shots fired on busy Philadelphia street; 6 wounded | Local News | phillytrib.com
Washington
Biden to meet with farmers as he seeks to cut meat prices | News | tribdem.com
Biden’s words on voting rights meet call to action after 1/6 | News | tribdem.com
U.S. Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger says agency is ‘much better prepared’ : NPR
Biden talks sanctions, Putin warns of rupture over Ukraine | WITF
Pentagon chief Austin says he has tested positive for COVID | News | phillytrib.com